Tuesday, December 1, 1998 Published at 09:27 GMTWorld: AmericasLords verdict sparks debate in ChileThe military is thought unlikely to interveneBy Santiago Correspondent James Reynolds

The verdict in the UK House of Lords that General Pinochet does not have immunity from prosecution has led to a wave of political action and
debate in Chile.

Supporters of General Pinochet have demanded action to bring about the
former military leader's prompt return.

Opposition
politicians have called, so far unsuccessfully, for the heads of the Senate and the
head of the Supreme Court to visit Europe to lobby for General
Pinochet's release.

The Senate held three days of talks to discuss sending its own
delegation
to Europe.

But senators failed to agree on the message they would take
to London and to Madrid, and the trip was cancelled.

Foreign Minister Jose Miguel Insulza's visit to Europe has been
followed
with great interest in Chile. Many have seen it as the Chilean
government's
only hope of securing General Pinochet's return.

Scepticism over Chile trial

Before leaving Santiago, Mr Insulza told reporters that he would
repeat
his government's position that General Pinochet cannot be tried
abroad
for
crimes committed in Chile.

Once in London he went one step further, and
told the BBC that the former military leader may be tried in his own
country.

This assertion has been greeted with scepticism in Chile. Opponents of
General Pincohet say that the amnesty law passed by the former military
leader together with his parliamentary immunity make it impossible for
him
to be tried in his own country.

"I think it's very unlikely that
Pinochet
will ever be criminally prosecuted in Chile." says Jose Miguel Vivanco
from
the Organisation Human Rights Watch, "The political problems and legal
obstacles the judiciary will have to overcome make very, very unlikely
this
event."

Generals concerned

Much attention in Chile has focused on the reaction of the armed
forces.

Following the House of Lords' verdict the army released a statement
expressing its "deep concern" over the situation facing its former
commander in chief.

The Head of the Army, General Ricardo Izurieta, has
held a series of well-publicised meetings with senior officials to
discuss
how the armed forces should react.

Up till now military commanders have
limited their reaction to expressing their unease about what has
happened.
But most in Chile rule out any sort of military intervention.

"I don't
see
any risk to Chilean democracy if General Pinochet is extradited." says
defence analyst Raul Sohr. "I mean the army and the armed forces have
absolutely nothing to gain by destabilising the government.

"Quite to
the contrary - if they were to do that any slim chance of negotiating a
release
of Pinochet would be lost completely."